14 Best Creatine Supplements of 2024, Approved by Dietitians 

Why We Like It

Transparent labs is by far one of our best creatine brands. As far as formulation goes, this product earned a high score. “Transparent Labs Creatine gets a 4.5 out of 5 for its formula,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, says. “The ingredients are clinically dosed and baked by science.” 

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB packs 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate per serving, which is ideal, as research suggests taking doses of three to five grams per day for at least 28 days may help increase creatine levels in your muscles. (11) 

This product includes 1.5g of HMB (hydroxymethyl butyrate), which has been associated with positive post-workout recovery, allowing your tired, damaged muscles to bounce back quicker for better performance. (24) “The addition of vitamin D is helpful, as a large percentage of the population has low or deficient vitamin D levels,” says Jillian Kubala, RD. “This can impact energy, muscle function, recovery, and more.” In this product, you get 60 percent of your daily value.

As our best creatine powder, this supplement is available in 11 different flavors with no artificial sweeteners. “I tried Black Cherry and didn’t love it as much as I have loved some other creatine powders. It tasted a little watered down, even with the recommended amount of water,” notes our tester who’s also a certified nutrition coach. That being said, she gave it a 4 out of 5 for taste, as some people may prefer the lighter flavor. 

We do wish this creatine dissolved a little better. “When I shook up this creatine, I noticed the floaties didn’t dissolve completely,” according to our tester who gave the solubility a 3.5 out of 5. So, if you don’t have an electric stirrer or blender, you may want a more soluble product.

Although we love this product, we don’t love the price tag. One 30-serving bottle costs $49.99, which is about $1.66 per serving. Since this is pricier than most other products, we had to give this category a 1 out of 5.

Why We Like It

For athletes competing in a league or federation, it’s crucial to find products that are certified for sport. That’s why we love Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate — this product is Informed Sport Certified and it packs 5,000 milligrams of creatine per serving.

“As far as its formulation goes, Sports Research Creatine Monohydrate hits the nail on the head,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formula a 5 out of 5 rating. “It provides the upper end of what research considers an effective dose of creatine and doesn’t contain any unnecessary fillers.”

Unfortunately, this product doesn’t offer any flavor options. However, our testers actually liked how unflavored it actually is, giving the taste a 5 out of 5. “I like mixing my creatine with BCAAs or other supplements and this one truly adds no flavor at all,” they said.

“Even when mixed with water, it just tastes like water,” says our tester. After mixing one scoop in a cup with a spoon, we did notice a little sediment at the bottom, which earned the solubility a 4.5 out of 5. However, when we mixed the product with electrolytes, we didn’t notice any settling. So, our team definitely recommends combining the product with another supplement.

The price point for this creatine is approachable, too, at only $17.95 for 10.58 ounces. However, we do wish the product label mentioned how many servings you get per container. It does include a scooper (one scoop is one serving), so you don’t need to worry about portions. Having the total servings per container would give us a better idea of cost, though.

Why We Like It

For our top creatine for bulking, we chose one with 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate, which may promote muscle recovery and strength gain. (11) (7) Plus, this supplement contains various other ingredients aimed at your body’s post-workout needs.

We like the addition of betaine, as it may help protect protein cells from environmental stress. (6) “Together, all of these ingredients work to improve blood flow and nitric oxide production to maximize your anaerobic performance,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formulation a 4 out of 5.

We enjoyed the vast variety of flavor options, too. Our tester (and certified nutrition coach) tried the Cherry Limeade specifically, and had some thoughts. “I really liked the flavor, but there was a little bit of an aftertaste.” It wasn’t enough to keep her from buying the product again — she still gave the taste a 5 out of 5 rating.

When it comes to mixing a drink for your training, though, we highly recommend giving Growth Surge a fair shake (pun intended). “It mixed poorly and left a bunch of floating clumps of powder,” says our tester who gives solubility a 3 out of 5. For those who hate clumping, this may not be the best pick.

The cost per serving isn’t ideal, unfortunately. One 30-serving container costs $39.99, which is about $1.33 per serving. We had to give Jacked Factory a 1 out of 5 in this category, as you can definitely find cheaper options. However, if you want a creatine that’s focused on building muscle, this is a good choice.

Why We Like It

Unlike some of the best greens powders, for instance, you don’t need to spend a ton of money on the best creatine brands and products to get a quality supplement. At only 32 cents per serving (and cheaper in bulk), Nutricost’s Creatine Monohydrate is the perfect example of a high-quality creatine at a budget-friendly price. For cost per serving, this pick definitely earned a 5 out of 5. 

The formula for this one is pretty simple, too. “Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate scores a 4 out of 5 for its formulation, as the flavored options contain sucralose and other additives,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, says. “However, I’d score the unflavored option with a perfect 5.”

“This unflavored creatine is actually completely tasteless,” our tester said, giving the flavor a 4.5 out of 5. “I’ve paired this supplement with my pre-workout and other powders, yet it never affected the taste.”

Unfortunately, though, this product wasn’t as soluble as we would have liked. “This creatine settled a lot,” our tester said, giving this category a 3 out of 5. “This is pretty common for creatine but it does gather at the bottom of my cup.”

BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Rosie Borchert has been using this creatine for about 6 months. “I never experienced any bloating from this product, even when I was in the loading phase,” she says, giving side effects a 5 out of 5.

The brand does claim the product was third-party tested, though our team can’t actually find any specifics on the website. This is an especially important factor to consider if you’re a competing athlete, as this one isn’t sport certified.

Why We Like It

Lots of supplement companies offer subscriptions, but not all of them provide access to a registered dietitian. Gainful does, and that’s what makes it our pick for the best subscription-based creatine. After getting set up with a subscription, you can check with an R.D. to answer questions about creatine loading phases or additional benefits the supplement may offer.

As for the product itself, it’s a straightforward creatine monohydrate with a clinically-backed dose of 5,000 milligrams per serving. “Most research suggests that 3 to 5 grams of creatine monohydrate is the ideal dose to maximize its benefits, and you get 5 grams with Gainful Creatine Monohydrate,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, BarBend expert contributor and registered dietitian. It’s also free of preservatives and any artificial flavors, dyes, or sweeteners. Our tester didn’t experience any bloating or GI discomfort after use. 

It’s only available in an Unflavored option, and our tester was pleased to report they didn’t taste it at all when mixing with milk. In terms of solubility, they noticed a bit of powder stuck to the side of their cup after mixing it with a handheld mixer, but overall experienced no issues. “After mixing it in a shaker cup, I let it sit for roughly an hour and didn’t notice any separation,” they add. Flavor received a 5 out of 5, while solubility scored a 4.5 out of 5. 

We like that Gainful offers its creatine in 28-, 56-, and 84-serving containers, but we wish the customer could save a few bucks by buying in bulk. The cost per serving — around 78 cents — remains the same no matter which option you buy. While it’s not the most affordable creatine we’ve tested, the access to an R.D. helped bump up our value score to a 4 out of 5. 

Finally, while we admire Gainful’s commitment to clean ingredients, we wish this product had some mark of third-party testing that can provide the peace of mind that the label delivers what it promises and includes no banned substances. “Nothing stands out as a red flag with this creatine from Gainful, but it would be an added bonus if they sent the product for third-party testing to ensure safety and purity,” says Bourgeois.

Why We Like It

Many companies try their hand at making a good creatine monohydrate supplement, but we think this one is top-notch. Each serving of Jacked Factory’s simple creatine houses 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate with no additional ingredients. “Jacked Factory Creatine Monohydrate easily gets a 4.5 out of 5 for formulation,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “You get exactly what you pay for — creatine without any alarming or unnecessary fillers.” 

Plus, it’s unflavored, so you can mix it with any beverage or stack it with other supplements. “It tastes like water to me,” according to our Head of Content and competitive weightlifter Kate Meier, so you don’t necessarily need to mix with other ingredients, either. She gave it a 5 out of 5 in the taste department however we recognize that some athletes may prefer at least one or two flavor options.

However, she did note that it didn’t dissolve entirely — “There was a little sediment that gathered at the bottom over time,” Meier said, giving the product a 4 out of 5 for solubility. Although specific creatine timing doesn’t necessarily matter, according to Kubala, research suggests that taking creatine shortly before and/or after a workout can be beneficial. (29) So, keep an electric stirrer handy. 

We give the price per serving a solid 5 out of 5. One 85-serving container costs $34.99, which is only about $0.41 per serve, making it among our most cost-friendly choices. Plus, this one is available on Amazon Prime, so you’ll get it in a matter of days. 

Why We Like It

Flavored creatines are pretty uncommon, yet, even some unflavored products leave an unsavory aftertaste — that’s not the case here! XWERKS Lift Unflavored is truly unflavored, allowing it to mix well in one of the best supplement stacks. 

“I found it almost entirely undetectable mixed with protein powder or in my morning coffee,” our tester notes, giving the flavor a 5 out of 5. “Though it was a bit bitter mixed in water alone, I still found it manageable to drink.” A creatine we can mix in virtually any beverage? Count us in. 

XWERKS’ formula is pretty simple, which our team liked as well. “XWERKS Lift gets a 4.5 out of 5 for formulation,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “The micronized creatine is easily digested and the supplement doesn’t contain any unnecessary fluff.”

Our testers also loved how easily this product dissolved, earning a 4.75 out of 5 for solubility. “This one doesn’t have a grainy taste at all,” according to our tester. “It mixed well, despite a tiny bit of settling after I left it untouched.” All you need is a blender bottle and you’re good to go.

Considering you get 80 servings per $49 bag, we gave the cost a 5 out of 5. One serving costs $0.61, which is lower than a good chunk of other brands on the market.

An area we docked it though? This product isn’t third-party tested, which can be an issue for high-level or professional athletes who compete. “If you’re an athlete who wants their creatine supplement to multitask, this may not be the one for you,” says Bourgeois. “This simple formula doesn’t include added ingredients for performance.”

Why We Like It

Gummies can be a delicious way to take your supplements. Swoly Creatine Mono Gummies fall right in line here — “I thought these creatine gummies were freakin’ delicious,” our Head of Content and lead product tester Kate Meier noted, giving the flavor a 5 out of 5.

It’s easy to take gummies (like these from Swoly) with you on the road, making them one of the simplest options on this list. “Swoly Creatine Gummies get a 4 out of 5 for their formulation,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, says. “I’m a fan of the amount of creatine monohydrate provided in each serving. Deductions came from the use of artificial flavors and small amounts of added sugar.”

Aside from the 2.5 grams of added sugar, there are 4 grams of creatine monohydrate in each serving of Swoly gummies. This is right in range for your daily recommended 3 to 5 grams, but most of the best creatine brands dose their creatine monohydrate products closer to five grams, making this one a bit on the low side. (27) 

We gave these gummies a 5 out of 5 for swallowability. “They’re so easy to eat and delicious,” Meier said. “I genuinely look forward to eating these.” 

Meier’s enthusiasm can’t hide the fact that this is an expensive supplement, though. Swoly’s 30-serving bottle costs $34.99, putting these gummies at $1.17 per serving — almost $0.75 per serving higher than other creatines, earning a 1 out of 5 for cost.

One thing to note: Creatine gummies are relatively new, according to Bourgeois. “Most research has looked at the effects of creatine powders,” she says. “There hasn’t been much research, if any, on creatine gummies and digestion’s impact on their effects.” So, if you’re doubtful, opt for a powder.

You don’t necessarily need to take creatine before training. Actually, it can work as a post-workout supplement, especially Legion Recharge. We like this pick for its impressive 5,000mg of micronized creatine. 

We also appreciate Recharge’s heightened focus on post-workout recovery, thanks to the corosolic acid. This ingredient is included to help improve exercise performance, though more research on the benefit is needed, Kubala says. Also, the 2.1 gram serving of carnitine has been linked to increased muscle mass, accompanied by weight loss and reduced physical and mental fatigue. (28)

“I like that Legion included corosolic acid — not many creatine supplements do,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “Recharge’s formulation scores a 4.25 out of 5 in my book.” 

Athletes get multiple flavor options. Our tester and certified nutrition coach tried the Strawberry Lemonade, noting that the taste was, “Really good, like this mixture of sweet and tart…” Taste scores a 5 out of 5.

Also, this creatine powder was a breeze to blend up. “I didn’t have any issue with solubility and didn’t notice any grittiness when taking sips,” says our tester. Our team gave this product a 5 out of 5 for solubility. 

One 30-serving container of Recharge is $47.99, which is about $0.80 per serving. We had to give the cost a 3 out of 5, as you can easily find creatine supplements at $0.50 per serving (or less). That being said, this formula does include some beneficial post-workout ingredients.

One note: Watch out for the sweetener. “Legion Recharge is sweetened with stevia, which isn’t tolerated by everyone,” says Bourgeois. “Even the unflavored option includes the natural sweetener.” So, if you’re sensitive to added sweeteners, you may prefer another pick.

Why We Like It

Though having a variety of flavor options can be fun, supplement stackers usually prefer an unflavored creatine powder. Onnit Creatine Monohydrate is a no frills creatine supplement — it’s five grams of micronized creatine monohydrate per serving, and comes in a very neutral unflavored powder. Our tester rated the taste (or lack-thereof) a 5 out of 5 — we consider this a big win for Onnit since a lot of “unflavored” powders aren’t truly unflavored.

This creatine is also a solid option for athletes, as it contains no ingredients outside of the creatine itself — you won’t find any additional carbs, fats, or calories in this blend. “Onnit Creatine Monohydrate gets a 5 out of 5 for its formulation,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, says. “Hard to give it any other score when it provides the upper end of the optimal range of creatine without any unnecessary fluff ingredients!”

“It dissolved really well for me,” our tester (and certified nutrition coach) notes, giving the solubility a 5 out of 5. This isn’t something you’ll find with all creatine monohydrates, and if you’re stacking with a variety of other supplements, the small granule size is a huge plus — the last thing you want is your creatine clumping with your protein powder at the bottom of your shaker bottle.

“The taste is really neutral,” says our tester who gave flavor a 5 out of 5. “It’s easy to mix this with just water or stack it in with other supplements since it doesn’t affect the flavor.”

The five-gram dose is right on par for creatine monohydrates, and at $0.50 per serving, our team gave the price per serve a 3 out of 5. It’s certainly not the priciest option on the market but you can find even cheaper products. Plus, there’s no option to bulk buy, which some athletes may prefer.

Why We Like It

In some cases, adding yet another powder to your supplement stack may not be the most convenient. Luckily, you can get creatine in pill form, too! And for those who prefer a pill over powder, we suggest Crazy Muscle Creatine Pills.

“While they require you to swallow 3 pills to get the full dose, you do get 4.8 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, says, giving the formula a 4 out of 5. “There’s just some curiosity as to why they include creatine alpha-ketoglutarate and creatine pyruvate when they’re so understudied.”

As Bourgeois explains, there are three types of creatine in these pills, however, creatine monohydrate is really the form with the most supporting research. Nevertheless, the other two creatines are safe for must adults (always consult your doctor), they may just not be as effective.

We do like that this product offers bulk buy options, however, and it’s available on Amazon Prime, so there’s not much wait time. Our team did give the swallow-ability a 3.5 out of 5, though. “The pills are easy enough to swallow,” says our tester, a certified nutrition coach, “However, sometimes I just don’t want to wash back a handful of pills.” The pills aren’t difficult to consume but you do have to take three per serving, which can be inconvenient, especially if you’re taking other capsule supplements.

“This product is reasonably priced,” says our tester. One 30-serving container costs $22.48, which is only about $0.75 per serving. For this, cost scores a 5 out of 5.

Why We Like It

Unlike most creatine supplements, Crazy Nutrition CRN-5 mixes creatine monohydrate, creatine malate, and creatine pyruvate. Plus, you also get electrolytes, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, so you stay hydrated during a sweaty workout session. We did have to ding the formula just a bit, though (it earned a 3.75 out of 5), as it contains a juice powder blend and sucralose.

After trying the Lemon Lime flavor, our expert tester, Kate Meier, CPT, really enjoyed the taste. “I thought it tasted pretty yummy,” she said, giving the flavor a 4 out of 5. “It’s not overly sweet or sour — it’s more in the middle. I’m also a big fan of lemon lime flavored things, so I would absolutely drink this again.” 

After mixing this powder in a shaker cup, though, Meier did notice some issues with the solubility, giving this factor a 4 out of 5. “If you look closely, you can notice that it doesn’t fully dissolve, which some athletes may not love,” she said. “You can definitely see little grain particles floating in the liquid.”

Our tester didn’t notice any negative side effects, which was a big bonus. We do wish, however, that the formula were a little more price-friendly. One bag costs $44.99, which is about $1.49 per serving. You can definitely find more budget-friendly creatine supplements on this list, so we had to give Crazy Nutrition a 3 out of 5 here. Though, you can set up a subscription and save.

However, a large red flag we’ll wave is due to their delivery and customer service. BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Rosie Borchert has been waiting on a shipment from Crazy Nutrition for over a month. While she continues to correspond with customer service, they still have yet to ship her the product she ordered. “I’m not sure if I trust this brand,” Borchert says. Delivery earns a 1 out of 5.

Why We Like It

If you’re a beginner looking for a product that can potentially help boost your athletic performance, this pick is simple and — we think — a great starting point. “Bulk supplements did an excellent job with this creatine powder,” Chelsea Rae Bourgeois said, giving the formulation a 4.5 out of 5. “You get five grams of micronized creatine and no added ingredients, so it’s incredibly simple.” 

Bulk Supplements Creatine is 100 percent pure creatine monohydrate and includes no other ingredients. This can be a great option for beginners, as it allows you to see how that ingredient alone may affect your performance and recovery.

This one doesn’t have any flavor options, unfortunately. “It’s truly unflavored, and doesn’t have any bitter aftertaste,” says our tester. This may work well for a beginner trying new supplements, as it can stack well with the best protein powders or BCAAs. Our team gave the flavor a 4 out of 5. “However, I noticed this bag doesn’t come with a scooper,” our tester says, which is a bit of a downside for those looking for a reliable measuring tool. 

We also like that Bulk Supplements offers capsules in addition to powder form creatine. Though you shouldn’t experience any issues with the solubility here, capsules are a nice alternative for those who need a more convenient option. You can choose from four capsule options, including either vegetarian or gelatin capsules at either 100 or 300 capsules per bottle.

The powder comes in six buying options from three and a half ounces all the way up to 55 pounds. The price per serving will vary, depending on the size you get, but the standard 1.1-pound bag is only $21.96, which is about $0.22 per serving. Needless to say, this one earned a 5 out of 5 for cost.

Why We Like It

If we’re being totally honest, no one creatine supplement is necessarily better than another for specific gender identities. Everyone’s body is different and has different needs. That being said, we did love this pick for athletes who want a convenient gummy option.

This formula is pretty solid, including 3,000 milligrams of creatine monohydrate, 50 milligrams of l-theanine, and 50 milligrams of l-tyrosine. “Interestingly, each serving [also] provides 5 grams of fiber,” says BarBend expert contributor and registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois. While we do like these beneficial additions, we do wish there were more creatine per serving.

This pick still gives you a clinically-effective dose, but most creatine supplements tend to pack five grams. Additionally, Bourgeois isn’t a fan of the sugar alcohols and excessive amounts of B12 in this product. “Sugar alcohols can cause GI distress when consumed in excess… And you’ll notice you get almost 17,000% (yep, you read that right) of your daily vitamin B12 needs. That obviously far exceeds your needs and is beyond what the average body can absorb,” she says, giving formulation a 2.5 out of 5.

We thought these were super easy to consume, too. As these are gummies, there’s no solubility to consider. That being said, these are only three gummies per serving (some others are six gummies per serving), so we gave the swallowability a 5 out of 5.

Our testers also thought the flavor was pretty solid, giving it a 4 out of 5. “These tasted a lot like gummy candy, which I liked,” one tester said. “The blueberry did taste a little artificial but that was to be expected, given they’re gummies.”

As with the other gummies we’ve listed on this page, Bear Balanced isn’t the most budget-friendly pick, unfortunately. One serving is about $1.60, which is more than a dollar per serving more than most other picks on this list. So, if you prefer a cheaper creatine, you may want to look elsewhere.